D E N V E R ’ S M B K W O R K I N G C O M M I T T E E Antwan Jefferson, PhD Human Development and Family Relations University of Colorado Denver

Benzel Jimmerson, CYFAR/FLTI Program Coordinator Colorado State University Denver Extension

Brad Strong, Executive Director Colorado Mentoring Partnership

Cedric Buchanon, City President Metropolitan Denver BBVA Compass

Darlene Sampson, PhD Culturally Responsive Education Director Denver Public Schools

Don Mares, Executive Director Denver Office of Behavioral Health Strategies

TABLE OF CONTENTS MBK Community Challenge - 6 Milestones ................................ 1

Office of Children’s Affairs - Navigating the MBK Challenge ...... 2

MBK Index Map – Denver Neighborhoods in Need .................... 3

MBK Denver Summit 2015 ......................................................... 4

Focus Areas and Action Plans ................................................... 5

“Let’ s s tand up for our youth. The t ime i s now . .. le t’ s e ffec t change.” M a y o r M i c h a e l B . H a n c o c k

Erin Brown, Executive Director Denver Office of Children’s Affairs

Franita Ware, PhD Culturally Responsive Education Director Denver Public Schools

Happy Haynes, President Denver Public School Board of Education

Joey Pace, Youth Success Director Denver Office of Children’s Affairs

Jonathan McMillan, Director Be Better Than Average

Michelle Tenorio, Operations Manager Denver Office of Economic Development

Regina Huerter, Executive Director Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission

FOR YOUR INPUT AND DEDICATION . . . THANK YOU Athletics & Beyond Be Better Than Average Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver Colorado State University Denver Extension Community College of Denver Denver Indian Family Resource Center Denver Police Department Denver Public Schools Friends First Human Rights and Community Partnerships, City and County of Denver La Raza Youth Leadership Institute Mayor’s Office of Denver Office of Behavioral Health, City and County of Denver Office of Children’s Affairs, City and County of Denver Office of Economic Development, City and County of Denver Office of Independent Monitor, City and County of Denver Project VOYCE Steps to Success Youth On Record

THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER ACCEPTS THE MY BROTHER’S KEEPER COMMUNITY CHALLENGE The White House announced the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative in February 2014. Through this initiative, the White House Administration is joining with numerous cities, towns, businesses and foundations that are all taking important steps to connect young people to mentoring and support networks. The MBK initiative is intended to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure all young people can reach their full potential. In September 2014, President Obama issued the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, and the City and County of Denver quickly jumped on board! Denver is well situated to take on the MBK Challenge with many programs and efforts already in place to assure the success of our youth. Lead by the Mayor’s Office of Children’s Affairs, our team has been working collaboratively with community members and youth, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, businesses and other government agencies to identify the issues that most often keep boys and young men of color from achieving success. Together, we are designing comprehensive strategies and laying the groundwork to create opportunities to change their paths. OUR WORK WILL BE GUIDED BY 6 MILESTONES identified by the MBK Task Force. These goals will challenge Denver to ENSURE ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH ...

HIGH SCHOOL

READY FOR

COLLEGE / CAREER

GRADUATE

     

                                                         

COGNITIVELY, PHYSICALLY,

SOCIALLY AND

EMOTIONALLY

READY TO LEARN

ENTER SCHOOL READ

AT GRADE LEVEL

BY 3RD GRADE

COMP

LETE

POST - SECONDARY

EDUCATION / TRAINING

FIND EMPLOYMENT

SUCCESSFULLY WHEN

OUT OF SCHOOL

REMAIN SAFE

FROM VIOLENT CRIMES

AND ARE GIVEN

SECOND

CHANCES

MBK DENVER | PAGE 1

                                               

     

THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S AFFAIRS | DEDICATED TO CREATING PATHWAYS FOR DENVER’S YOUTH      

 150,000 CHILDREN LIVE IN DENVER Approximately 150,000 children live in Denver. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that Colorado, and Denver specifically, is undergoing significant demographic changes. Denver’s population is becoming increasingly diverse, with children of color making up a growing portion of children ages 17 and younger. As of 2013, Denver was made up of a majority of children who reported race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. In other words, children of color, mixed race/ethnicity, and others, made up 68 percent (92,000) of the total child population. Thirty-two percent of children ages 17 and younger were categorized as non-Hispanic White in 2013. Forty-nine percent were reported to be of Hispanic origin of any race. CHILD POVERTY IMPACTS OUTCOMES Children living in poverty often experience the negative conditions of substandard housing, homelessness, food insecurity, inadequate nutrition and child care, lack of access to health care, unsafe neighborhoods and under-resourced schools. They are also at risk for negative outcomes such as low academic achievement, dropping out of high school, abuse and neglect, behavioral or physical health problems and developmental delays.

 THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S AFFAIRS

Navigating the MBK Challenge OCA has inspired community partnerships with organizations that deliver programs emphasizing cognitive, social, emotional and physical development for youth. These partnerships have allowed our youth to explore opportunities, which have been untapped as a result of the negative effects of child poverty. Under Mayor Hancock’s administration, the City and County of Denver established 5 GOALS to ensure Denver’s youth are prepared to succeed: � Increase the number of children who have access to quality early childhood experiences � Increase the number of third grade students who can read at grade level � Decrease the number of disconnected youth � Increase the number of students who have access to and complete a post-secondary pathway and obtain a job � Increase the percentage of children who are at a healthy weight Denver’s 5 GOALS align closely with the 6 MILESTONES defined by the My Brother’s Keeper Task Report. The City and County of Denver is an “MBK Community.” With so many children in poverty and statistical evidence supporting that children of color have the odds stacked against them, we are embracing a shared responsibility to change those odds. Email us at childrensaffairs@denvergov.org to learn more about the MBK initiative and how you can get involved!

The Mayor’s Office Of Children’s Affairs (OCA) consists of a team of professionals specifically dedicated to ensure Denver’s youth have access to life-enhancing opportunities and pathways.    

DENVER CHILDREN IN POVERTY

MBK DENVER | PAGE 2

                                                           

MBK INDEX | GEOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW OF KEY INDICATORS The Office of Children’s Affairs uses data to provide an understanding of Denver’s children, such as where they live and what challenges or opportunities they face ... obstacles that shape their experience. Several key indicators, as listed below, were identified from the current literature and the MBK Task Force Report submitted to President Obama in May 2014. Statistics revealed that many Denver neighborhoods have a multitude of these indicators, making opportunities in these areas less accessible to youth.

2015 MBK INDEX | DENVER NEIGHBORHOODS

MBK DENVER | PAGE 3

                                                         

MBK SUMMIT – YOUTH, BUSINESS LEADERS AND CITY OFFICIALS COME TOGETHER The City and County of Denver hosted a My Brother’s Keeper Summit on April 4, 2015. This event created an opportunity for community members, along with youth, to engage in dialogue around the necessity of Denver building an MBK community. TIMELINE: PRE-PLANNING FOR THE SUMMIT 2015

OVERVIEW AND ARTISTIC DIAGRAM: MBK SUMMIT APRIL 4, 2015

 

12.1

4

11.14 VISIONING PROCESS Stakeholder Meeting I

12.14 FOCUS AREAS Stakeholder Meeting II

01.15 MBK OVERVIEW Youth Meeting/OCA

02.15 MBK PRIORITIES Youth Summit

03.15 SUMMIT AGENDA OCA Meeting

MBK DENVER | PAGE 4

                                                           

ACTION PLANS: FOUR FOCUS AREAS ESSENTIALTO MBK DENVER  

“The MBK Challenge calls for us to unify and advance each strategy toward creating opportunity for all Denver youth. The City and County of Denver is committed to the success of our youth and the MBK initiative,” Erin Brown, Executive Director, Denver Office of Children’s Affairs.

SUMMIT HIGHLIGHT 3 Four focus areas set a framework for small group discussions around MBK objectives and strategies. � Juvenile Justice System � Education � Social/Emotional Health � Workforce Development

SUMMIT HIGHLIGHT 2 Over 100 young men of color voiced their top two concerns. � More teachers of color and cultural competence training for present staff � Positive engagement with law enforcement

SUMMIT HIGHLIGHT 1 Youth, business leaders and elected officials generated ideas through conversation and breakout sessions. � OCA provided statistical data to guide discussions

 

Action Plan: JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM Partner Agency: Office of Independent Monitor Key Resources: OMNI Disproportionate Contact Report

Activities/Strategies: Support the Office of Independent Monitor’s “Bridge the Gap” program, which seeks to proactively improve relationships between youth and law enforcement in Denver Action Plan: EDUCATION Partner Agency: Denver Public Schools and Office of Children’s Affairs

Key Resources: Black Male Achievement Initiative and DPS Perception Survey

Activities/Strategies: Identify key indicators of culturally responsive teaching methods, revise student perception survey and propose a culturally responsive parent observation process

Action Plan: SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH Partner Agency: Colorado Mentoring Partnerships and Office of Children’s Affairs Key Resources: Policy and political support from the Mayor’s Office and corporate partnerships

Activities/Strategies: Develop a mentoring initiative and create an MBK awareness campaign

Action Plan: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Partner Agency: Office of Economic Development and Office of Children’s Affairs

Key Resources: MBK index map, network of youth-focused mentors and coaches

Activities/Strategies: Create a summer workforce program that employs young men from neighborhoods with the highest MBK indicators and provide coaching/mentoring on navigating the workplace successfully

MBK DENVER | PAGE 5